Interaction between lithification and resource availability in the microbialites of Río Mesquites, Cuatro Ciénegas, México

Corman, Jessica R.; Poret-Peterson, Amisha T.; Uchitel, A.; Elser, James J.

doi:10.1111/gbi.12168

Cited by 20 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 53 publications

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“…The microbiomes of microbial mat communities in Lake Clifton, and in particular cyanobacteria in thrombolite‐associated mats, are enriched in genes associated with phosphate limitation (Warden et al., ). Studies of P‐limited microbialites in Cuatro Ciénegas, Mexico, found increased rates of primary production and calcification in P‐addition experiments (Corman, Poret‐Peterson, Uchitel, & Elser, ; Elser et al., ). At Lake Clifton, higher inputs of P by groundwater discharge would therefore increase microbial activity and growth, which is corroborated by our observations of extensive mat growth on thrombolites discharging groundwater.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The importance of groundwater flow to the formation of modern thrombolitic microbialites

Warden

Coshell²,

Rosen

et al. 2019

Geobiology

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Modern microbialites are often located within groundwater discharge zones, yet the role of groundwater in microbialite accretion has yet to be resolved. To understand relationships between groundwater, microbialites, and associated microbial communities, we quantified and characterized groundwater flow and chemistry in active thrombolitic microbialites in Lake Clifton, Western Australia, and compared these observations to inactive thrombolites and lakebed sediments. Groundwater flows upward through an interconnected network of pores within the microstructure of active thrombolites, discharging directly from thrombolite heads into the lake. This upwelling groundwater is fresher than lake water and is hypothesized to support microbial mat growth by reducing salinity and providing limiting nutrients in an osmotically stressful and oligotrophic habitat. This is in contrast to inactive thrombolites that show no evidence of microbial mat colonization and are infiltrated by hypersaline lake water. Groundwater discharge through active thrombolites contrasts with the surrounding lakebed, where hypersaline lake water flows downward through sandy sediments at very low rates. Based on an appreciation for the role of microorganisms in thrombolite accretion, our findings suggest conditions favorable to thrombolite formation still exist in certain locations of Lake Clifton despite increasing lake water salinity. This study is the first to characterize groundwater flow rates, paths, and chemistry within a microbialite‐forming environment and provides new insight into how groundwater can support microbial mats believed to contribute to microbialite formation in modern and ancient environments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The importance of groundwater flow to the formation of modern thrombolitic microbialites

Warden

Coshell²,

Rosen

et al. 2019

Geobiology

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“…, Corman et al. ); thus, variation in fish‐driven P recycling may be especially important to ecosystem function in these systems. As function of these ecosystems is threatened by the growth of irrigated agriculture in the region, declining groundwater table and spring discharge has reduced temperatures and decreased piscivore abundance in affected locations (Contreras‐Balderas , Minckley , Souza et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…We tested how variation in consumption affects intraspecific variation in nutrient recycling rates and ratios in a desert fish species, Gambusia marshi, in the Cuatro Ci enegas basin in Coahuila, Mexico. In general, the surface waters of Cuatro Ci enegas are deficient in P and primary production is strongly P-limited (Elser et al 2005, Corman et al 2016; thus, variation in fish-driven P recycling may be especially important to ecosystem function in these systems. As function of these ecosystems is threatened by the growth of irrigated agriculture in the region, declining groundwater table and spring discharge has reduced temperatures and decreased piscivore abundance in affected locations (Contreras-Balderas 1984, Minckley 1992, Souza et al 2006.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Consumption explains intraspecific variation in nutrient recycling stoichiometry in a desert fish

Moody

Carson

Corman

et al. 2018

Ecology

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Consumer-driven nutrient recycling can have substantial effects on primary production and patterns of nutrient limitation in aquatic ecosystems by altering the rates as well as the relative supplies of the key nutrients nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). While variation in nutrient recycling stoichiometry has been well-studied among species, the mechanisms that explain intraspecific variation in recycling N:P are not well-understood. We examined the relative importance of potential drivers of variation in nutrient recycling by the fish Gambusia marshi among aquatic habitats in the Cuatro Ciénegas basin of Coahuila, Mexico. There, G. marshi inhabits warm thermal springs with high predation pressure as well as cooler, surface runoff-fed systems with low predation pressure. We hypothesized that variation in food consumption among these habitats would drive intraspecific differences in excretion rates and N:P ratios. Stoichiometric models predicted that temperature alone should not cause substantial variation in excretion N:P, but that further reducing consumption rates should substantially increase excretion N:P. We performed temperature and diet ration manipulation experiments in the laboratory and found strong support for model predictions. We then tested these predictions in the field by measuring nutrient recycling rates and ratios as well as body stoichiometry of fish from nine sites that vary in temperature and predation pressure. Fish from warm, high-predation sites excreted nutrients at a lower N:P ratio than fish from cool, low-predation sites, consistent with the hypothesis that reduced consumption under reduced predation pressure had stronger consequences for P retention and excretion among populations than did variation in body stoichiometry. These results highlight the utility of stoichiometric models for predicting variation in consumer-driven nutrient recycling within a phenotypically variable species.

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“…Within the Saprospiraceae family, the genus Haliscomenobacter was represented together with groups of undetermined Saprospiraceae most similar to clones from lithifying microbialites (KP589290 and KP514320, Corman et al . 2016 ), acid mine drainage sediments (KY943160, Ramanathan et al . 2017 ), and a study on Mn-oxidizing bacteria during biofilm formation (AF379685, Kielemoes et al .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbiomes in a manganese oxide producing ecosystem in the Ytterby mine, Sweden: impact on metal mobility

Sjöberg

Stairs

Allard

et al. 2020

FEMS Microbiology Ecology

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Microbe-mediated precipitation of Mn-oxides enriched in rare earth elements (REE) and other trace elements was discovered in tunnels leading to the main shaft of the Ytterby mine, Sweden. Defining the spatial distribution of microorganisms and elements in this ecosystem provide a better understanding of specific niches and parameters driving the emergence of these communities and associated mineral precipitates. Along with elemental analyses, high-throughput sequencing of the following four subsystems were conducted: (1) water seeping from a rock fracture into the tunnel, (2) Mn-oxides and associated biofilm; referred to as the Ytterby Black Substance (YBS) biofilm (3) biofilm forming bubbles on the Mn-oxides; referred to as the bubble biofilm, and (4) fracture water that has passed through the biofilms. Each subsystem hosts a specific collection of microorganisms. Differentially abundant bacteria in the YBS biofilm were identified within the Rhizobiales (e.g. Pedomicrobium), PLTA13 Gammaproteobacteria, Pirellulaceae, Hyphomonadaceae, Blastocatellia and Nitrospira. These taxa, likely driving the Mn-oxide production, were not detected in the fracture water. This biofilm binds Mn, REE and other trace elements in an efficient, dynamic process, as indicated by substantial depletion of these metals from the fracture water as it passes through the Mn deposit zone. Microbe-mediated oxidation of Mn(II) and formation of Mn(III/IV)-oxides can thus have considerable local environmental impact by removing metals from aquatic environments.

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Interaction between lithification and resource availability in the microbialites of Río Mesquites, Cuatro Ciénegas, México

Cited by 20 publications

References 53 publications

The importance of groundwater flow to the formation of modern thrombolitic microbialites

The importance of groundwater flow to the formation of modern thrombolitic microbialites

Consumption explains intraspecific variation in nutrient recycling stoichiometry in a desert fish

Microbiomes in a manganese oxide producing ecosystem in the Ytterby mine, Sweden: impact on metal mobility

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